Giovanni van Bronckhorst 'proud' as he reflects on Rangers journey
The Ibrox side have sealed a spot in the Champions League group stages for the first time in 12 years
Giovanni van Bronckhorst revealed the pride he was feeling after Rangers beat PSV Eindhoven 1-0 to reach the Champions League for the first time in 12 years.
After a 2-2 draw against the Dutch side in the first leg of the play-off at Ibrox last week, another absorbing encounter was settled in the Philips Stadium by Antonio Colak's tap-in on the hour mark for a 3-2 aggregate win.
Rangers will take their place in Thursday's Champions League group-stage draw along with Old Firm rivals Celtic.
The Rangers boss said: "It is a very proud moment. I know what it means for the fans, for the club, to be playing in the highest level in Europe, competing with the best teams.
"I think it is a proud moment for all of us.
"I have played many games as a player, coached my team Feyenoord in the Champions League and now I have the opportunity to experience it with Rangers so it is very proud moment."
The Dutchman noted that Rangers had re-emerged in the bottom tier of Scottish football in 2012 after a financial meltdown and had battled back to the Europa League final last season, where they lost on penalties to Eintracht Frankfurt in Seville - and now back to the Champions League for the first time since 2010.
The former Rangers player said: "You know where the club comes from, 10 years ago we were at the lowest point in history.
"And it took really hard work from everyone involved to build the club back again to the level that we are now so it is a proud moment for me to thank all the people who gave so much energy and time to build this club back up again.
"Seville was a proud moment for us to compete to try to win the club's second European trophy in history and we have the same moment to be in the Champions League draw and compete against the best teams in Europe."
Van Bronckhorst had controversially left Alfredo Morelos out of his squad due to fitness levels and attitude but he offered an olive branch to the Colombia striker.
He said: "Morelos qualified for the Champions League as well.
"I think he is also proud to see his team-mates and club qualify for the biggest competition in the world.
"He is still a Rangers player and I will push him the way I can to get him fit and get the Morelos back we all want."
Malik Tillman, who set up Colak for the winner, told BT Sport: "It feels amazing.
"Everyone wanted to be in the Champions League and we did it today and it is an amazing feeling.
"We worked altogether as a team, tried to score and defend as best as we can, it was very important not to concede a goal. We did the best we could and got the win in the end.
"I can't wait to play in the Champions League. I am looking forward to it.
"It was 12 years ago that the club was in the Champions League so I guess everyone is a bit hyped to be back and we will try to do our best and go as far as possible."
William Wilton
William Wilton was Rangers' first manager who served the club in this post for over 20 years from 1899 to 1920. In his time at Rangers he brought home eight league titles and one Scottish Cup before passing away while still in his position as manager on the 2nd May 1920.
Bill Struth
The most decorated and longest-serving Rangers manager to-date Bill Struth, managed Rangers from 1920 all the way up to 1954. He won 18 League titles and 10 Scottish Cups as well as 2 League Cups and seven wartime League Championships.
Scot Symon
Scot Symon managed Rangers from 1954 to 1967 and guided the team to six League titles, five Scottish Cups and 4 League Cups. He was also the first Rangers manager to have previously played for the club and helped the club win a League title in 1939.
David White
Having previously played for Clyde, David White became manager of Rangers in November of 1967 and was the first Rangers manager not to win any major honours while in charge. He then became one of the three managers dismissed by the club in 1969.
William Waddell
Ex-Rangers player William Waddell took the helm at the end of 1969 and led the side to a League Cup win and to their only continental trophy victory in the 1972 European Cup Winners' Cup Final 3-2 against Dynamo Moscow.
Jock Wallace
Jock Wallace managed Rangers from 1972 – 1978 and then again from 1983 – 1986, where he won the Treble of winning the League title, Scottish Cup and League Cup in the seasons 1975-76 and 1977-78.
John Greig MBE
John Greig MBE spent his entire professional career with Rangers, from starting off on the pitch as a Defender to becoming Manager in 1978. During his five-year managerial stint, he won the Scottish Cup and League Cup twice. He was also voted 'The Greatest Ever Ranger' in 1999 by the club's supporters.
Graeme Souness
Graeme Souness became a player-manager at Rangers with Walter Smith assisting him at the helm. Within his five years in charge, from 1986- 1991, aside from winning 3 league titles and 4 league cups, he broke down barriers by signing Mo Johnston, the first Roman-Catholic addition to the Rangers team.
Walter Smith OBE
From 1991 – 1998, Walter Smith OBE stepped away from his previous Assistant Manager role and led Rangers to achieve League titles, three Scottish Cups and three League Cups. He then came back to manage Rangers from 2007- 2011, winning eight more major prizes for the club.
Dick Advocaat
Dick Advocaat managed Rangers from 1998 – 2001 and won two League titles, two Scottish Cups and a League Cup. Notably, in his first season at Rangers, he led the team to finish six points above Celtic, who they defeated 1-0 in the Scottish Cup final.
Alex Mcleish
Notably winning the domestic Treble in his second season, Alex McLeish in total achieved two League titles, two Scottish Cups and three League Cups. He was the Manager of Rangers when they clinched the Scottish Premiere on goal difference.
Paul Le Guen
French player and manager Paul Le Guen took over from McLeish in 2006 before leaving in mid-2007 without winning any prizes for the club. At the time, this made him Rangers' shortest serving manager.
Ally McCoist MBE
In May 2011, Ex-player Ally McCoist took to the helm of Rangers and saw them through entering administration in 2012. He described the position as a 'dream job at a nightmare time' and left the position in December 2014.
Mark Warburton
From June 2015 – February 2017, Mark Warburton managed Rangers where he notably came out on top of an Old Firm victory in the Scottish Cup Final where the team won 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 game.
Pedro Caixinha
Pedro Caixinha managed Rangers from March 2017- October that same year. He failed to obtain any prizes before he was dismissed by the club.
Graeme Murty
Graeme Murty was the caretaker manager for Rangers from February – March 2017 before being appointed as the official manager in October that same year. He was in the role until May 2018.
Steven Gerrard
From June 2018 – November 2021, ex-Liverpool player Steven Gerrard managed Rangers gaining the team their first League title since 2011. He then stepped down to manage Aston Villa.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst
Former player Giovanni van Bronckhorst returned to Ibrox to take over from Steven Gerrard in November 2021. The Dutchman led the Ibrox side to the Europa League final and won the Scottish Cup in his first season in charge. He left late in 2022 after a poor string of results and performances.